MURFREESBORO — Hundreds of special needs students from Murfreesboro and Rutherford County cheered as cowboys and their horses rounded the Miller Coliseum dirt floor on as part of a special rodeo program Friday morning.

The annual program returned to Murfreesboro on Friday after an ice storm canceled last year's show, said Sgt. Bill West with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.

"We're excited they got to come back," said West, as students walked into the arena and received cowboy hats from student resource officers and volunteers.

The event allowed about 850 students who may not get to go on many field trips the chance to get out of the classroom and have a fun hands-on experience, West said.

As the students, teachers and parents filled in a side of the arena, riders came to the edge of the dirt so students near the front could pet the horses they were riding. After the show was over, some got the chance to ride some of the rodeo's miniature ponies around the arena.

"It's amazing to see," said Yolanda McGee, a La Vergne parent who came to the show with her son, Mason. "They're allowing kids to special needs to come in, and it's not overwhelming."

Students roared as cowboys came out of the gate to lasso cattle and as horses were guided through a barrel run and raced down the home stretch. The 45-minute show provided only a glimpse of the full show performed by Lone Star Rodeo, but students were excited for the moments they saw.

"It was fun," said Sydney Stombaugh, an Oakland High School senior. "I liked seeing them try to lasso the animals. I liked seeing people riding the horses."

The rodeo was the first for many students and teachers at Murfreesboro City Schools. Although Rutherford County students have enjoyed the rodeo for many years, West said organizers worked to make sure more City Schools students could attend the event this year.

Students were able to focus and be drawn into the show, said Micah Myer, an educational assistant at Northfield Elementary School.

"As soon as the horses came out, they were attentive," Myer said. "It's just fun for them."

The full Lone Star Rodeo will continue at Miller Coliseum with a full show Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $10 for children.

The event is organized each year as a fundraiser for the county's student resource officers stationed at schools across Rutherford County.

Reach Brian Wilson at 615-278-5165. Follow him on Twitter @brianwilson17.

FRIDAY-SATURDAY -- The 12th annual School Resource Officers’ Lone Star Rodeo is set for March 3-4 at Miller Coliseum, 304 W. Thompson Lane in Murfreesboro. See real cowboys barrel racing and bull riding, among other rodeo favorites. Gates open at 6 p.m. with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. both days. Advance tickets go on sale Tuesday and are $8 for children ages 5 to 12 and $10 for adults. Children age 4 and younger get in free. Tickets at the door are $10 for children and $15 for adults. SROs will sell tickets at all county schools. Tickets will also be sold between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at 940 New Salem Highway in Murfreesboro. Jim Davis/for The DNJ